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Moderate Hiking Trails near Zürich

We track 55 routes that match this search near Zürich. They average 9.6 km and 244 m (801 ft) of ascent.

That is 33 percent of the 166 routes we map near Zürich. They are shorter than the local average, 9.6 km against 17.9 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 244 m (801 ft) against 394 m (1,293 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Moderate routes are the sweet spot for most regular walkers: enough climbing to feel like a proper day out, never enough to turn into an ordeal. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

The Zugerberg (el. 1,039 m.) is a mountain overlooking Zug and Lake Zug in the canton of Zug. It lies approximately halfway between Lake Zug and Lake Ägeri , Switzerland.
Moderate

Alpine Panorama Trail

Zug · Switzerland

Distance
12.3 km
/ 7.7 mi
Elevation gain
532 m
Typical duration
3 hr 22 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
New building of the train station of Littau, canton of Luzern, Switzerland
Moderate

Alpine Panorama Trail

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
12.5 km
/ 7.8 mi
Elevation gain
454 m
Typical duration
3 hr 17 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Covered Wooden Bridge over the Kleine Emme River, Werthenstein, Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland
Moderate

Alpine Panorama Trail

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
10.2 km
/ 6.3 mi
Elevation gain
147 m
Typical duration
2 hr 21 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Bridge in the Churerstrasse between Altendorf and Lachen by Robert Maillart, built 1944; Schwyz, Switzerland.
Moderate

ViaJacobi

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
10.6 km
/ 6.6 mi
Elevation gain
73 m
Typical duration
2 hr 19 min
  • Waymarked route
Bridges over river Rhine in Eglisau, view from Förlibuck; Zurich, Switzerland.
Moderate

Huguenot and Waldensian Trail

Schaffhausen · Switzerland

Distance
4.8 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
208 m
Typical duration
1 hr 19 min
  • Waymarked route
Hohner HS-2/E
Moderate

ViaGottardo

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
14.9 km
/ 9.2 mi
Elevation gain
379 m
Typical duration
3 hr 40 min
  • Waymarked route
Kronospan, Menznau
Moderate

ViaJacobi

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
13.8 km
/ 8.5 mi
Elevation gain
245 m
Typical duration
3 hr 14 min
  • Waymarked route
Tuggen, canton of Schwyz, Switzerland
Moderate

ViaJacobi

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
14.4 km
/ 9.0 mi
Elevation gain
224 m
Typical duration
3 hr 21 min
  • Waymarked route
The original offices of Toggenburger Bank in Lichtensteig, Switzerland (c. 1863)
Moderate

Rundweg

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
224 m
Typical duration
51 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Rontaler Höhenweg

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
13.4 km
/ 8.3 mi
Elevation gain
294 m
Typical duration
3 hr 13 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Schaffhauser-Zürcher-Weg

Schaffhausen · Switzerland

Distance
11.5 km
/ 7.1 mi
Elevation gain
253 m
Typical duration
2 hr 46 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Schaffhauser-Zürcher-Weg

Schaffhausen · Switzerland

Distance
13.5 km
/ 8.4 mi
Elevation gain
290 m
Typical duration
3 hr 15 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Schwabenweg

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
11.8 km
/ 7.3 mi
Elevation gain
260 m
Typical duration
2 hr 51 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Seeuferweg Baldeggersee

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
14.4 km
/ 8.9 mi
Elevation gain
316 m
Typical duration
3 hr 28 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Thurgauer Rundwanderweg

Schaffhausen · Switzerland

Distance
6.8 km
/ 4.2 mi
Elevation gain
149 m
Typical duration
1 hr 38 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Thurweg

Schaffhausen · Switzerland

Distance
14.0 km
/ 8.7 mi
Elevation gain
120 m
Typical duration
3 hr 5 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Thurweg

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
16.1 km
/ 10.0 mi
Elevation gain
280 m
Typical duration
3 hr 49 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Via Glaralpina

Glarus · Switzerland

Distance
13.3 km
/ 8.2 mi
Elevation gain
292 m
Typical duration
3 hr 12 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Via Glaralpina

Glarus · Switzerland

Distance
7.1 km
/ 4.4 mi
Elevation gain
156 m
Typical duration
1 hr 43 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Via Glaralpina

Glarus · Switzerland

Distance
10.8 km
/ 6.7 mi
Elevation gain
238 m
Typical duration
2 hr 37 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Via Natura

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
9.0 km
/ 5.6 mi
Elevation gain
199 m
Typical duration
2 hr 11 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Via Natura

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
11.0 km
/ 6.8 mi
Elevation gain
241 m
Typical duration
2 hr 39 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Via Natura

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
11.0 km
/ 6.8 mi
Elevation gain
242 m
Typical duration
2 hr 40 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Via Natura

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
8.8 km
/ 5.5 mi
Elevation gain
193 m
Typical duration
2 hr 7 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

ViaRhenana

Schaffhausen · Switzerland

Distance
14.3 km
/ 8.9 mi
Elevation gain
320 m
Typical duration
3 hr 28 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

ViaRhenana

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
10.6 km
/ 6.6 mi
Elevation gain
80 m
Typical duration
2 hr 20 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Waldstätterweg - Etappe 6

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
13.6 km
/ 8.5 mi
Elevation gain
300 m
Typical duration
3 hr 17 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Weg der Schweiz

Uri · Switzerland

Distance
7.5 km
/ 4.7 mi
Elevation gain
300 m
Typical duration
2 hr 1 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Weg der Schweiz

Uri · Switzerland

Distance
8.2 km
/ 5.1 mi
Elevation gain
480 m
Typical duration
2 hr 25 min
  • Waymarked route

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Alpine Panorama TrailZug12.3 km532 m3 hr 22 minModerateApril to October
Alpine Panorama TrailLucerne12.5 km454 m3 hr 17 minModerateApril to October
Alpine Panorama TrailLucerne10.2 km147 m2 hr 21 minModerateApril to October
ViaJacobiSchwyz10.6 km73 m2 hr 19 minModerateApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailZurich3.3 km244 m1 hr 4 minModerateApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailSchaffhausen4.8 km208 m1 hr 19 minModerateApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailZurich7.0 km220 m1 hr 47 minModerateApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailZurich4.5 km227 m1 hr 17 minModerateApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailZurich1.9 km187 m40 minModerateApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailZurich4.0 km229 m1 hr 11 minModerateApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Alpine Panorama Trail, Alpine Panorama Trail, Alpine Panorama Trail. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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